Drawing the Draped Figure

Add lifelike movement and striking sculptural quality to your drawing skill set as you learn to masterfully depict the draped form.

Discover expert techniques for sketching, shading and finishing to recreate the timeless motif of the human form draped in fabric. Begin your first rendering as award-winning artist Matt Weigle introduces you to the seven basic folds, and use the envelope method to quickly block in a pipe fold. Create a sphere study and diaper-fold rendering, and find out how to model and turn form using a range of values. Then follow Weigle as he sketches from a live model, simplifying the complex human form with basic shapes. Develop a realistic rendering with movement and depth as you use careful gradation details, sweeping lines and beautifully defined shapes to depict cascading drapery as it glides over the figure. Refine your drawing with clean edges and rich shadows and transform basic subject matter into a striking work of art.

Lesson plan

23:31

Lesson 1. Introduction to the Draped Figure

Meet your instructor, classical realism artist Matt Weigle, and learn about three of the most important basic fold techniques. Weigle walks you through ways to identify the pipe, zigzag and spiral folds before demonstrating how to set up and start blocking in your first sketches.

17:06

Lesson 2. Identifying & Sketching Folds

Improve your ability to recognize and understand draped forms as you study the half-lock, drop, inert and diaper folds. Weigle demonstrates how to set up a diaper fold and start blocking it in as you train your eye to see the folds, volume and movement of draped fabric in new ways.

32:54

Lesson 3. Warm-Up Modeling Study

Prepare for an in-depth light-and-shade exercise as you create a sphere study, developing palpable dimension and diverse values as you work. As you increase your skill and confidence in capturing form, Weigle shows you how to translate your sphere studies into fold exercises.

14:13

Lesson 4. Figure Block-In

Discover ways to draw from life using a draped model illuminated by a single light source. You’ll learn how to block in form, adjust the size of your drawing and explore the value contrast between various planes as you learn timesaving troubleshooting tips along the way.

22:38

Lesson 5. Composing the Folds

Continue to develop your fold studies as Weigle demonstrates additional methods to define light and shade, training your eye to find and recreate interesting shapes in your work. You’ll bring out the complexity in the flow and shape of the draped forms in addition to making changes and corrections to your studies.

24:07

Lesson 6. Modeling the Forms

Focus on turning the form into the light as you delve deeper into dimension and shadow work. Weigle shows you how to turn preparatory sketches into nearly picture-perfect drawings with careful gradation details, sweeping lines and beautifully defined shapes.

18:23

Lesson 7. Finishing the Drawing

In the conclusion of the class, Weigle walks you through even more correction techniques and shares professional finishing details that will help flatten shadows, emphasize important lines and refine each area of your drawing. You’ll leave the class prepared to apply these stunning drapery techniques to all of your future projects!

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Lesson plan

23:31

Lesson 1. Introduction to the Draped Figure

Meet your instructor, classical realism artist Matt Weigle, and learn about three of the most important basic fold techniques. Weigle walks you through ways to identify the pipe, zigzag and spiral folds before demonstrating how to set up and start blocking in your first sketches.

17:06

Lesson 2. Identifying & Sketching Folds

Improve your ability to recognize and understand draped forms as you study the half-lock, drop, inert and diaper folds. Weigle demonstrates how to set up a diaper fold and start blocking it in as you train your eye to see the folds, volume and movement of draped fabric in new ways.

32:54

Lesson 3. Warm-Up Modeling Study

Prepare for an in-depth light-and-shade exercise as you create a sphere study, developing palpable dimension and diverse values as you work. As you increase your skill and confidence in capturing form, Weigle shows you how to translate your sphere studies into fold exercises.

14:13

Lesson 4. Figure Block-In

Discover ways to draw from life using a draped model illuminated by a single light source. You’ll learn how to block in form, adjust the size of your drawing and explore the value contrast between various planes as you learn timesaving troubleshooting tips along the way.

22:38

Lesson 5. Composing the Folds

Continue to develop your fold studies as Weigle demonstrates additional methods to define light and shade, training your eye to find and recreate interesting shapes in your work. You’ll bring out the complexity in the flow and shape of the draped forms in addition to making changes and corrections to your studies.

24:07

Lesson 6. Modeling the Forms

Focus on turning the form into the light as you delve deeper into dimension and shadow work. Weigle shows you how to turn preparatory sketches into nearly picture-perfect drawings with careful gradation details, sweeping lines and beautifully defined shapes.

18:23

Lesson 7. Finishing the Drawing

In the conclusion of the class, Weigle walks you through even more correction techniques and shares professional finishing details that will help flatten shadows, emphasize important lines and refine each area of your drawing. You’ll leave the class prepared to apply these stunning drapery techniques to all of your future projects!

The instructor

Matt Weigle, Instructor of Drawing the Draped Figure

Matt Weigle earned a master of fine arts degree in painting and drawing from the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Art, where he was awarded the Charles Crawley Still Life Painting Prize. He studied traditional drawing, painting and sculpture at the Grand Central Academy’s Water Street Atelier program in New York and worked as a studio assistant for acclaimed artists Anthony Visco and Corliss Cavalieri. Weigle now works as an adjunct instructor at the Pennsylvania College of Art in addition to offering private drawing and painting workshops nationally and abroad.

Ratings & reviews

Class rating

(1 reviews)

Lots To Learn

by Kitcat50 on February 26, 2015

I really enjoyed the class. Matt was very clear to understand and really helped me understand so much about folds and how to view them. I loved the animal trick. The only thing I was hoping for that I didn't receive was some feedback on my uploaded project.

I really enjoyed the class. Matt was very clear to understand and really helped me understand so much about folds and how to view them. I loved the animal trick. The only thing I was hoping for that I didn't receive was some feedback on my uploaded project.

Materials

What materials are used in this class?

Pencils - 4B, 2B, B, HB

Charcoal pencils - hard, medium and soft; soft white

Layout pencil, extra black

Erasers

Sandpaper block, pencil sharpener and razor blade

Blending stumps

Mahlstick

Canson cream paper

Strathmore drawing paper

FAQs

Frequently asked questions

Absolutely — students ranging from ambitious beginners through experienced levels will benefit from instructor Matt Weigle’s up-close instruction. Join this atelier-style course and discover ways to work from life and photographs as you study the dimensions, values and expressive qualities of draped forms.